Fastener

ABSTRACT

A fastening assembly includes a first plate defining a first mounting hole therein, a second plate defining a second mounting hole therein, and a fastener for pivotably attaching the first plate to the second plate. The fastener includes a pivot portion engaged with the first mounting hole of the first plate and an shaft engaged with the second mounting hole of the second plate. The pivot portion includes a first end, a second end, and a neck connecting between the first end and the second end. The shaft extends from the second end of the pivot portion. A diameter of the second end is less than that of the first end, but greater than that of the second mounting hole of the second plate.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to fasteners, and more particularly relates to a fastener for pivotably attaching a first component to a second component.

2. Description of Related Art

In manufacturing, fasteners are usually utilized to fasten a first component to a second component. A common fastener may include a wrench-engaging head and a cylindrical shank with an external thread that can engage with a threaded hole in the components. However, the first component cannot be pivotable relative to the second component when such fasteners are used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric, exploded view of a first component, a second component, and a fastener according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is another view of the fastener of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view taken at line IV of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of a fastener 10 is utilized to pivotably attach a first component 20 to a second component 30. In this embodiment, the first component 20 is a rotatable member, and the second component 30 is a chassis of an electronic device. The rotatable member 20 and the chassis 30 are both made from thin sheet metal. In the embodiment, a thickness of the sheet metal is 1 millimeter.

The rotatable member 20 defines a first mounting hole 211 therein. The chassis 30 includes a lower flange 31 in which a second mounting hole 311 is defined. A diameter of the first mounting hole 211 is greater than that of the second mounting hole 311.

The fastener 10 includes a pivot portion 11 and a shaft 12 extending from the pivot portion 11. The pivot portion 11 includes a first circular end 111, a second circular end 112, and a neck 113 connecting the first end 111 to the second end 112. A diameter of the first end 111 is greater than that of the second end 112. A diameter of the neck 113 is less than that of the second end 112. Thus, an annular groove 114 is formed between the first end 111 and the second end 112. The diameter of the first end 111 of the fastener 10 is slightly greater than that of the first mounting hole 211 of the rotatable member 20. The diameter of the second end 112 of the fastener 10 is slightly less than that of the first mounting hole 211 of the rotatable member 20, but greater than that of the second mounting hole 311 of the chassis 30.

The shaft 12 of the fastener 10 includes a cylindrical main body 121 extending from the second end 112 of the pivot portion 11 and a plurality of protrusions 122 regularly formed around the main body 121 for interference fitting with the second mounting hole 311 of the chassis 30. Each adjacent protrusion 122 forms a space 123 therebetween. A diameter of the shaft 12 is less than that of the second end 112 of the pivot portion 11, but slightly greater than that of the second mounting hole 311 of the chassis 30. Each of the protrusions 122 includes a sloping corner 1221.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in assembly, the shaft 12 and the second end 112 insert through the first mounting hole 211 of the rotatable member 20. The first mounting hole 211 of the rotatable member 20 is pivotably engaged with the neck 113 between the first end 111 and the second end 112 of the fastener 10. The sloping corners 1221 of the protrusions 122 of the fastener 10 slide into the second mounting hole 311 of the chassis 30. The shaft 12 of the fastener 10 is pressed into the second mounting hole 311 of the chassis 30. Thus, the rotatable member 20 is pivotably attached to the chassis 30 by the fastener 10.

In the embodiment, the shaft 12 engaging in the hole 311 is an interference fit. The first end 111 of the fastener 10 is pressed into the first mounting hole 211 of the rotatable member 20, and exterior surfaces of the first end 111 of the fastener 10 and the rotatable member 20 are coplanar (See FIG. 4). The first end 111 of the fastener engaging in the first mounting hole 211 is not an interference fit. The rotatable member 20 is fixed to the pivot portion 11 of the fastener 10 by a friction between the first mounting hole 211 and the first end 111 of the fastener. The rotatable member 20 will rotate when force is applied to overcome the friction. A thickness of the pivot portion 11 of the fastener 10 is equivalent to that of the sheet metal of the rotatable member 20. A thickness of the shaft 12 of the fastener 10 is equivalent to that of the sheet metal of the flange 31 of the chassis 30.

However, in other embodiments, the first end 111 of the fastener 10 may protrude from and resist against the exterior surface of the rotatable member 20, thus the rotatable member 20 pivotally engages with the neck 113 of the fastener 10 and rotates relative to the chassis 30.

While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of preferred embodiments thereof, and while the preferred embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. 

1. A fastener for pivotably attaching a first component defining a first mounting hole therein to a second component defining a second mounting hole therein, the fastener comprising: a pivot portion comprising a first end, a second end, and a neck between the first end and the second end; and an shaft extending from the second end along an axial direction, the shaft comprising a plurality of protrusions capable of providing an interference fit with the second mounting hole; wherein a diameter of the second end is greater than that of the neck, but less than that of the first end.
 2. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises a cylindrical main body extending from the second end of the pivot portion along the axial direction, the protrusions are regularly formed around the main body of the shaft.
 3. The fastener of claim 2, wherein each two adjacent protrusions of the shaft defines a space therebetween.
 4. The fastener of claim 2, wherein each of the protrusions comprises a sloping corner.
 5. The fastener of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the shaft is substantially equivalent to the thickness of the pivot portion of the fastener.
 6. The fastening assembly of claim 5, wherein the first component and the second component are made from thin sheet metal, and the thickness of the shaft or the pivot portion is substantially equivalent to that of the sheet metal.
 7. The fastener of claim 6, wherein the thickness of the sheet metal is 1 millimeter.
 8. An assembly comprising: a first plate defining a first mounting hole therein; a second plate defining a second mounting hole therein; and a fastener for pivotably attaching the first plate to the second plate, the fastener comprising a pivot portion engaged with the first mounting hole and a shaft engaged with the second mounting hole of the second plate; wherein the pivot portion comprises a first end, a second end, and a neck between the first end and the second end, the shaft extends from the second end of the pivot portion, a diameter of the second end is less than that of the first end, but greater than that of the second mounting hole of the second plate.
 9. The fastening assembly of claim 8, wherein the neck of the pivot portion of the fastener pivotably engages with the first mounting hole of the first plate.
 10. The fastening assembly of claim 9, wherein a diameter of the first end is formed at a top of the fastener, and the first end protrudes from and abuts against a surface of the first plate.
 11. The fastening assembly of claim 10, wherein the diameter of the second end is less than that of the first mounting hole, the diameter of the first end is greater than the first mounting hole.
 12. The fastening assembly of claim 8, wherein the, exterior surfaces of the first end and the first plate are coplanar.
 13. The fastening assembly of claim 8, wherein the shaft of the fastener comprises a cylindrical main body and a plurality of protrusions regularly formed around the cylindrical main body, the protrusions engage with an interior surface of the second mounting hole.
 14. The fastening assembly of claim 13, wherein a diameter of the shaft is greater than that of the second mounting hole.
 15. The fastening assembly of claim 13, wherein each of the protrusions of the shaft of the fastener comprises a sloping corner for facilitating the shaft sliding into the second mounting hole.
 16. The fastening assembly of claim 8, wherein the first plate and the second plate are made from thin sheet metal.
 17. The fastening assembly of claim 16, wherein a thickness of the sheet metal is 1 millimeter.
 18. The fastening assembly of claim 16, wherein a thickness of the pivot portion is substantially equivalent to that of the shaft and that of the sheet metal. 